In my own search tests, I also found the results less than Google-relevant in three attempts. I’m also not quite a fan of the visual search results. Perhaps, I’m just too used to the Google search results or perhaps Google search results are easier to scan through.

Netflix, which attracted 168,000 new customers during the second quarter, plans to stick with its current subscription models for movie rentals. “We don’t plan to enter the pay-per-view segment, where Apple, Amazon, Sony and others focus, or the ad-supported segment, where Hulu, YouTube and others compete,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said. “Both of those segments will likely be substantial, but our subscription segment will also be large and will provide Netflix plenty of room for growth.” (The Hollywood Reporter 7/25,Los Angeles Times/Associated Press 7/26)

Emboldened by Optimedia’s new Power Ratings survey that combines TV, streaming, iTunes purchases, and mobile viewing, The CW has changed its mind and decided to once again stream episodes of Gossip Girl on its web site. Gossip Girl ranks as the #15 on TV when factoring in multiple platforms and other intangibles. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Someone still needs to do something about the completely intolerable CW site but for this above, I am thankful. Now seriously, can someone work on making the site intuitive and simple in use. I think it’s a testament to how obsessed fans are with this show (present company included) that they would be willing to inflict CW.com on themselves.

CBS Interactive unveiled a new CBS HD Gallery on CBS.com containing clips and a few full episodes from a dozen of its prime time shows. You can check out clips from 6 new fall shows: The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, Worst Week, Harper’s Island, The Ex List and Gary Unmarried there as well. Intel is sponsoring the offering to promote its Centrino mobile technology. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Jimmy Fallon, who will take Conan O’Brien’s place on NBC’s Late Night next year after Jay Leno leaves The Tonight Show, will hone his skills online in 5-10 minute segments beginning in the fall, reported the New York Times. (Cynopsis 7/28)

To promote the latest collection of short stories by Stephen King CBS Corp.’s Simon & Schuster is introducing a series of daily animated shorts on iTunes and Amazon.com today produced by Marvel Entertainment. A season pass for the Stephen King’s N, one of the stories in the Just After Sunset anthology, can be had for the economical price of $3.99 for 25 episodes. Click here to download an embeddable widget that will automatically deliver an ad-supported version of each episode for free. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Click the image below for the first episode. It’s like a cheesy version of The Ring but the artwork is amazing. And to try to redeem my snarkiness, here lies one very well coordinated widget strategy.

A new website called GoAnimate.com launched at Comic-Con enabling novice users to create their own cartoons using a simple menu-based interface. A new deal will also allow users to create reels with characters under the Entertainment Rights umbrella of licenses including Underdog, Richie Rich and Mr. Magoo. To kick things off (and attract talented animators) GoAnimate is hosting a contest looking for original creations, dangling $5,000 for the top-judged entry and $2,500 for the most popular entry. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Hulu is attacking that sizeable segment of the market that’s never heard of the service by unveiling a new Widget Gallery to help spread the word and remind loyal users to check back often for new shows. A selection of embeddable players allow users to queue and track featured, recently added or most popular videos from a number of environments including Facebook, Netvibes and Piczo. Hulu.com also began streaming its first soap opera – Guiding Light – on July 25 and will debut two other TeleNext Media shows As The World Turns today and Another World on July 29. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Microsoft is working with producer Peter Safran (Scary Movie, Meet The Spartans) to create a series of comedic shorts for free distribution on the 12 million member Xbox Live platform, directed by leading horror film directors including James Wan (Saw) and Marcus Nispel (Texas Chainsaw Massacre.) The 10-minute shorts, which will also be available on MSN and Zune, are actually pilots that could be developed into full blown online series, according to Microsoft. (Cynopsis 7/28)

NBCU’s Sci Fi Network announced a slate of new online programming (including another series of ten Battlestar Galactica webisodes) as well as a new stand-alone entertainment site based on the entertainment news section SCI FI WIRE, expected to launch during Q4. Sci Fi also plans to launch a new social network in the fall based around Ghost Hunters where users can share their favorite ghost stories and gear. The recently redesigned SciFi.com just finished its best quarter ever in terms of uniques (3.4MM), visits (5.7MM), page views (36.8MM) and video streams (5.2MM). (Cynopsis 7/28)

From the indefatigable vertical women’s online network Glam Media comes the Glam Application Platform, aka “Atako,” designed to allow developers to build apps and share in revenue generated when their apps are used by Glam’s 77 million monthly readers. For instance the GlamTV app lets publishers embed video accompanied by brand advertising, revenue from which is shared between publisher, video provider and content owner. The open source platform, currently in private beta, even has its own embeddable Glam Apps Store. (Cynopsis 7/28)

Short form videos still dominate online viewing, according to a new study conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates & Metacafe. The online survey, which looked at the habits of 2,000 users aged 12-64, identified Comedy (37%), music videos (36%), UGC (33%), news (31%) and movie trailers (28%) as the top 5 short form categories. Other findings include:

50% of respondents watch online video weekly

11% watch online video daily

28% of those who watch online videos report watching less TV as a result

19% of online video users report regularly sharing a link to a video with someone else

No, I did not run out and buy the 3G Apple iPhone on Friday. I did, however, upgrade my software to 2.0 and immediately fell in love with my shiny new applications. Above is a screenshot from the applications screen of my iPhone. All of the screenshots below were taken from my iPhone in use with the exception of the remote app (since I wasn’t at home at the time).

Here’s the favorites:

#1: Remote

One of the simplest, yet most mesmerizing experiences. The application connects via Wi-Fi to your laptop’s iTunes library and controls the music from anywhere in the house. . .or apt as the case may be. In the kitchen and feeling some Muse? Click. In the bathroom and really need to hear Kanye? Click. In the hallway and strangely testing the distance limits of your Wi-Fi network with a particular desire to hear The Postal Service? Click.

#2: Shazam

This application “listens” to music from any source responding with song name, artist, and album name along with a list of relevant media including say, a YouTube music video of the song or a link to buy the song on iTunes. Brilliance. I put Shazam to the test with some truly random music and the application proved 100% success.

#3: Pandora Radio

Who needs satellite radio when you have a personalized radio station in your pocket? If you’re not familiar with Pandora, let me break it down for you. You start the service by telling Papa Bear Pandora some music you like. The program then tests you with some additional songs it thinks you might like. You rate the songs as they come up and diss the ones that just don’t do it for you. Over time, the program learns your particular taste and adds in new music continuously. Take all of that, put it in your pocket, and you have this app.

I wanted to get down with Super Monkey Ball but after several minutes of play, I was bored. Maybe it’s because I’m just not a gamer at heart and maybe I was looking for something more Guitar Hero. With this app, I’ve found it. With better music, I’d say this was 5 stars but right now it’s still pretty fun.

This morning, I found a MUCH improved situation when I visited the 5th Avenue and Soho Apple stores in NYC. Both lines wrapped around the block and the media was out in true feeding frenzy form. Here are some pics from this morning’s adventures.

5th Avenue Store NYC: The Line

The Crowd

See mom, cool kids like iPhones too! Check out the man on the left and admire the shoes. . .as they so obviously compliment his friend’s pants.

iPhone Love

I swear I didn’t stage this. All three men don’t know each other and all three men are completely engaged in their iPhones. Ah, love. . .

In my morning conversations with folks in line, I found that 75% of the people I spoke to (extremely limited obviously) had a 1st generation iPhone and were upgrading to the 3G.

#1 in Line: The Who Farm Guy

As Engadget covered earlier in the week, Thewhofarm have been waiting since the weekend for the 3G iPhone. OK, they’re not really so much waiting for the iPhone as much as they’re trying to drum up press for their organization. The group supports organic farming and hopes to plant an organic farm on the lawn of the White House. When asked who they support for President, they claim to be non-partisan even though several of the members voiced support for Obama (shocker).

Minutes before 8AM when the iPhone went on sale, Daniel Simon from the group evangelized in front of the store walking back and forth carrying a Macbook much to the chagrin of nervous security guards.

Here’s my favorite pic of the group taken earlier in the week. . .proving that yoga truly can be done anywhere.

The Ovation

As the first members in line walk through the doors to the store, they are greeted by clapping and cheers from Apple Geniuses in orange shirts. Nice touch.

The Soho Store NYC: The Line

Despite some frustration given the store’s server going down, all in line were in high spirits.

Will I upgrade to the 3G?

No.

Why?

I value my cheap monthly plan.

I think the mapping functionality on my current phone, while lacking GPS, is adequate.

The new 3G, while faster, doesn’t have pix messaging, a video camera, longer battery life or a removable battery, and cut/paste features. I’m not sayin. . .I’m just sayin.

Apple = innovation. This product just doesn’t rise too far above their last game-changer. Oh, and that white plastic back reminds me of white disco boots from the seventies. . .and not in a good way.

Here’s my favorite piece of video from the day. Captured at the 5th Avenue NYC store, a man tells the line they are going to hell if they purchase an iPhone. I’m fairly certain that my God wants me to have an iPhone. Otherwise, I’m switching gods.

Many thanks to Elavia (pictured with groovy van below) and Eileen from IZZE for allowing me to roll with them and drink tons of free product.

For information on the upgrades on the 3G iPhone, click here. For information on the 2.0 software upgrade, click here.

Apple store drones, PR agents and customer service reps are being as tight-lipped as can be regarding details of the 3G iPhone leading up to the July 11 launch. Apple has actually distributed a 3-page document to sales personnel instructing employees not to gossip about features or, under any circumstances, hold an iPhone for a customer, according to Apple Insider. A report issued yesterday from FBR Capital claims Apple has already upped its chip orders for the iPhone to more than 15 million units. (Cynopsis 6/27)

Twitter, the free microblogging service, is closing on another round of financing, this time led by Spark Capital, along with Jeff Bezos‘s investment entity, Bezos Expeditions. Twitter vows that one day it “will become a sustainable business supported by a revenue model.” (Iwantmedia 6/25, http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-9976578-60.html 6/24)

CBS Television Stations’ digital media group is rolling out a widget-advertising-revenue-sharing program with local bloggers at more than a dozen network-owned stations across the country. The program launched at New York’s WCBS last week and was “making money from day one.” (Iwantmedia 6/25, http://www.observer.com/2008/cbs-news-becomes-widget-factory 6/24)

Internet advertising spending will surpass radio this year, forecasts Steve King, head of Publicis Groupe’s ZenithOptimedia. “Internet has already overtaken cinema and outdoors. In a couple of years it’s going to overtake magazines.” Also, Publicis is forming a unit to boost Internet sales. (Iwantmedia 6/25, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aeJ2MQBDVzKA 6/25)

MLB.com continues to set the standard for live online streaming delivering between 1 and 1.5 million games over the internet each day and racking up between 50-60 million unique visitors a month during baseball season, per Variety. More than a third of all MLB tickets sold online, more than any other sport. (Cynopsis 6/23)

ESPN launched its latest online exclusive series giving fans an “all access” look at Kansas State basketball star Michael Beasley, expected to be one of the top 2 picks in the NBA draft on June 26. Ten 3-5 minute webisodes will premiere on ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile TV throughout the summer. (Cynopsis 6/23)

Disney’s ABC is expected to announce that episodes of prime time shows like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives,” along with short clips and game highlights from ESPN, will be accessible through indie video site Veoh.com. Veoh is backed by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. (Iwantmedia 6/23, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/business/media/23veoh.html 6/23)

While Barry Diller’s IAC plans to divide its myriad Internet outfits into five separate public business units, the company is pooling them with an advertising-sales and targeting system that will marry data from across all its assets to sell “audience cubes.” (Iwantmedia 6/23, http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=127899 6/23)

PBS announced it is streaming the entire 11-part Election Day series on the P.O.V. website, beginning at 11:30 pm ET on July 1 – the night it airs on PBS. The series, shot from dawn until the wee hours of Nov. 2, 2004, examines the political process through the eyes of group of citizens who struggle to get their voices heard. (Cynopsis 6/23)

(Below) Now, here’s an interesting theory. This is like blaming the retail store because you’re product just isn’t selling. Lame at best.

The Apple iPod is partly to blame for the collapse of the music industry, according to a report from eMarketer. The Mac maker helped set the tone for a “rat’s nest of restrictions and incompatibilities” that led to consumer confusion and stalled the growth of digital music. (Iwantmedia 6/23, http://www.redherring.com/Home/24370 6/20)

Despite slow adoption rates so far, a new study says demand for home servers will grow to 90 million units by 2015. The home automation hubs — capable of storing and forwarding pictures, video and data — will gain popularity as consumer electronics companies begin to offer more user-friendly products than today’s PC-based systems. (EE Times 6/19)